Methods for reclaiming or recycling asphalt and asphalt and asphalt components produced thereby

Abstract

A method to reclaim or recycle asphalt or asphalt components to produce reusable asphalt or asphalt components featuring (a) providing asphalt or asphalt components; (b) adding the asphalt or asphalt components to a solution at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the asphalt binder; and optionally one or more of the following: grinding or breaking the asphalt to be reclaimed or recycled into chunks, millings or particulate prior to step a), c) screening or separating coarse aggregate and fine aggregate asphalt components from the solution of b), d) cleaning or removing asphalt binder and/or the solution from the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate asphalt components screened or separated in step c), and e) cleaning or removing asphalt binder from the solution of b).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method to reclaim or recycle asphalt or asphalt components to produce reusable asphalt or asphalt components comprising
 (a) providing asphalt or asphalt components:   (b) adding the asphalt or asphalt components to a solution at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the asphalt binder.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the solution is at least 350° F. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the solution is an oil or petroleum based solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising grinding or breaking the asphalt to be reclaimed or recycled into chunks, millings or particulate prior to step a) above. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising
 c) screening or separating coarse aggregate and fine aggregate asphalt components from the solution of b). 
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising
 d) cleaning or removing asphalt binder and/or the solution from the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate asphalt components screened or separated in step c). 
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the cleaning or removing asphalt binder and/or the solution from the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate asphalt components is performed by centrifugal spinning or by adding a second solution effective to remove the asphalt binder and/or the first solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising
 e) cleaning or removing asphalt binder from the solution of b). 
 
     
     
         9 . A reclaimed asphalt or asphalt component reclaimed or recycled according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The reclaimed asphalt component of  claim 9  comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of a coarse or mineral aggregate, a fine aggregate and an asphalt binder. 
     
     
         11 . The reclaimed asphalt component of  claim 9  featuring binding properties for binding to an asphalt binder that are superior to the binding properties of virgin asphalt or virgin asphalt components. 
     
     
         12 . The reclaimed coarse or mineral aggregate of  claim 10  wherein the coarse or mineral aggregate is substantially coated with asphalt binder or an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         13 . The reclaimed fine aggregate of  claim 10  wherein the fine aggregate is substantially coated with asphalt binder or an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         14 . The reclaimed asphalt binder of  claim 10  wherein the asphalt binder is a liquid dissolved in an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         15 . A reclaimed asphalt or asphalt component comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of a coarse or mineral aggregate, a fine aggregate and an asphalt binder. 
     
     
         16 . The reclaimed asphalt component of  claim 15  featuring binding properties for binding to an asphalt binder that are superior to the binding properties of virgin asphalt or virgin asphalt components. 
     
     
         17 . The reclaimed coarse or mineral aggregate of  claim 15  wherein the coarse or mineral aggregate is substantially coated with asphalt binder or an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         18 . The reclaimed fine aggregate of  claim 15  wherein the fine aggregate is substantially coated with asphalt binder or an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         19 . The reclaimed asphalt binder of  claim 15  wherein the asphalt binder is a liquid dissolved in an oil or petroleum base solution. 
     
     
         20 . A solution comprising a reclaimed or recycled asphalt binder reclaimed or recycled according to the method of  claim 1 .